U15 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – FINAL DAY SUMMARY

GIRLS:

Saskatchewan 94 Newfoundland 30

The last day of the U15 National Championships saw Saskatchewan taking 7^th place over Newfoundland this morning 94-30.  Saskatchewan dominated early, coming off of a loss to BC Red yesterday at the Tournament Capital Center.  Winning the first two quarters 19-5 and 43-14, they continued to push forward with smart plays and tough defence.  The home team extended their lead in the third 66-22 and finished strong in the final quarter.  Saskatchewan’s record for the Championship is 3-3 while Newfoundland’s is 0-6.

Saskatchewan guard Shinelle Handzuik (Regina) had 16 points and seven rebounds, earning her McDonald’s Player of the Game honours.  For Newfoundland, Jessica Powell was named the McDonald’s Player of the Game for her 10 points and seven rebounds.

Nova Scotia 61 British Columbia (Red) 50

Nova Scotia proved that they are one of the top five teams in the nation after a 61-50 triumph over BC Red in the 5^th place game.  The result capped off Nova Scotia's tournament record at 2-4; BC Red finished their journey with an identical two wins and four losses.

Neither team was able to pull away in the first quarter; after 10 minutes the score was 14-14.  Strong defence by Nova Scotia held BC Red to only two points in the first five minutes of the second quarter.  The eastern province continued to fight and posted a 30-21 lead at the half.  Nova Scotia went on a 15-3 run in the latter stages of the third quarter to increase their lead to 45-29 with 10 minutes left to play.  BC Red went on a late run in the fourth to keep things interesting; however, Nova Scotia's strong foul shooting down the stretch kept the lead in their hands.

Guard Zana Cassidy (Halifax) was an offensive catalyst for Nova Scotia with a game-high 20 points.  Guard Mendeira Smith (Halifax) and forward Madison Swan (Oxford) each had eight rebounds in the win.  BC Red's high scorer was guard Natalie Carkner (Port Coquitlam)--she had 16 points. Forward Amber Kavanagh (Langley) had six rebounds for the losing side.  The McDonald's Players of the Game were Cassidy of Nova Scotia and guard Michelle Spacek (Port Coquitlam) of BC Red.

Alberta 66 Manitoba 52 (Bronze Medal Game)
 
Alberta didn't want to leave Kamloops empty handed.  Forty minutes of hard work got them their wish--a bronze souvenir that came courtesy of a 66-52 victory over Manitoba.

According to wing Selali Acolatse (Edmonton), no one player stole the show for Alberta, the entire group contributed.  "I definitely think it was a full team [effort], we won it together," Acolatse said.  Manitoba kept the score close throughout most of the game, but in the end Alberta was able to maintain their lead over the Pool B champions.

The slight edge belonged to Alberta early on. They established a 16-15 lead at the end of the first quarter.  The second quarter began with a surge of offence from both sides.  Alberta expanded their lead to 32-27 at the halftime intermission.  Guard Emily Adamic (Edmonton) played her best basketball of the tournament in the third quarter, sparking Alberta's offence. Heading into the fourth, Alberta had a sizeable 51-34 advantage.  Manitoba cut down the lead in the last frame, but they were unable to fully climb back.

Alberta guard Montana Romeril (Calgary) netted 14 points for the bronze medal champions. Acolatse grabbed 12 rebounds for Alberta.  Meanwhile, Manitoba was led on the score sheet by guard Taneesha Greaves (Winnipeg) who had 19 points.  Post Emily Loewen (East St. Paul) brought in 11 rebounds for the fourth best team in the nation.  The McDonald's Players of the Game were Alberta's Romeril and Manitoba guard Kerri Kuzbyt (Winnipeg).

Ontario 43 British Columbia (Blue) 36 (Gold Medal Game)

Ontario fought off a late BC Blue surge to win the 2009 U15 National Championships by a score of 43-36.  The victory improved Ontario's flawless tournament record to 6-0.  BC Blue finished with an admirable four wins and two losses.

This was the second time these two teams had faced off in the tournament.  The first time around, Ontario dominated 82-54.

This time it was completely different.

The hometown girl, forward Emma Wolfram (Kamloops), got things started with BC Blue's first three points and a huge block on the defensive end.  It didn't take long for Ontario to shake off the cobwebs and get their offence rolling--they went on an 11-1 run midway through the first frame.  The first 10 minutes ended with Ontario leading 13-8.  In the second quarter, Ontario was able to double their lead.  As the teams headed to the locker rooms after 20 minutes, the scoreboard read 24 for Ontario and 14 for BC Blue.

BC Blue poured on the pressure in the third quarter, at one point minimizing the lead to four.  At the end of the third, it was 32-26 for Ontario.  The west-coast girls continued their dramatic comeback by tying the game 32-32 three minutes into the fourth. Ontario regained their lead and held on for dear life until the final whistle.

Guard Dakota Whyte (Ajax) led her team in scoring with 12 points. She added 13 rebounds for a double-double.  The most rebounds for Ontario were shoveled in by guard Shaylisha Colley (Brampton) with 14 of the team's 51 boards.  Guard Alisha Roberts (Burnaby) was BC Blue's high scorer with 12 points.  She nearly recorded a double-double as she also picked up nine rebounds. Wolfram was an absolutely dominant force on the boards--she got to 29 rebounds for BC Blue.  The McDonald's Players of the Game were Colley of Ontario and Roberts of BC Blue.

Whyte's reaction of her team's victory was straight to the point.  "I felt that we played a great game," Whyte said.  Whyte also credited the play of Wolfram, acknowledging her rebounding talent.

MVP:
#4 Danielle Boiago, Ontario 

1^st Team All-Star:
#21 Emma Wolfram, BC Blue
#9 Shaylisha Colley, Ontario
#8 Montana Romeril, Alberta
#9 Taneesha Greaves, Manitoba
#10 Alisha Roberts, BC Blue

2^nd Team All-Star:
#15 Jordan MacLean, Alberta
#4 Natalie Carkner, BC Red
#5 Deserae Hogberg, Saskatchewan
#7 Zana Cassidy, Nova Scotia
#7 Dakota Whyte, Ontario

BOYS:

Newfoundland 54 Nova Scotia 82

Nova Scotia ended their ride at the 2009 U15 National Championships on a high note by defeating Newfoundland 82-54 in the 7^th place game.  The victory was payback for Nova Scotia as they lost 94-75 to Newfoundland earlier in the tournament. Both teams finished the tournament with identical records of 1-5.

Nova Scotia's quest to avoid last place started early and they led 17-8 after the first quarter.  Second quarter action was more evenly matched and Nova Scotia headed to the locker room up 32-21 at the half.  In the third, Nova Scotia increased the pressure.  Solid three-point shooting by guard JJ Wilson (Dartmouth) helped expand Nova Scotia's lead to 65-39.  Newfoundland was unable to get any closer in the fourth quarter.

Wilson led Nova Scotia with 16 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.  Post Adam Keatings (Mount Pearl) earned a double-double for Newfoundland with 12 points and 11 rebounds.  Wing Gary Neville (St. Mary's Bay) was one point away from a double-double--he had nine points and 10 rebounds for Newfoundland.  The McDonald's Players of the Game were Nova Scotia's Wilson and Newfoundland's Keatings.

British Columbia (Red) 48 Manitoba 61

Manitoba will go home with 5^th place after defeating BC Red 48-61.  With Manitoba taking the early lead, 11-13, BC Red would stay behind in the first two quarters.  With a serious of well planned out layups and perimeter shots, Manitoba’s offence came on strong and won the half 15-29.  With three seconds left on the clock, the visiting team’s Patrick Mart (Winnipeg) hit an exciting three point shot at the buzzer to help cushion Manitoba’s lead going into the fourth. 

Manitoba’s starting line up, including Stanely Bateman (Winnipeg), Rodel Aaron (Winnipeg), and Kristjan Lamont (Winnipeg), had combined for 32 points of the total score.  Both Manitoba and BC Red will go home with a 4-2 record in the U15 National Championships.  The McDonald’s Players of the Game were Manitoba’s Aaron with 11 points and seven rebounds, and BC’s Cole Penman with five rebounds. 

Alberta 64 Saskatchewan 51 (Bronze Medal Game)

Alberta followed in the footsteps of their sister team and claimed bronze at the 2009 Canadian Under 15 Basketball Championships.  Despite trailing early, they were able to beat Saskatchewan in the prairie province battle by a score of 64-51.

Saskatchewan started the game off strong. Nine points in the first quarter from guard Xavier Kosolofski (Regina) gave them a 17-12 lead at the first break.  Alberta clawed back in the second quarter to tie the game 26-26 at the half.  Saskatchewan started the second half by taking the lead, but Alberta retaliated by snatching a 43-39 advantage at the end of an exciting third quarter.  Alberta went on a 7-2 run to start the fourth and it seemed as though Alberta was stealing the ball every time Saskatchewan brought it up the court.  Saskatchewan fought until the final buzzer, but Alberta was just too much.

Guard Kyle Peterson (Edmonton) earned the most points for Alberta with 15. Post Connor Foreman (Camrose) got an amazing 20 rebounds in the win.  Foreman and wing Denzel James (Edmonton) both recorded double-doubles.  Kosolofski led Saskatchewan with 18 points, while post Travis Sylvestre (Lumsden) recorded 13 rebounds for the losing squad.  Peterson of Alberta and Kosolofski of Saskatchewan were the McDonald's Players of the Game.

Ontario 87 BC Blue 60 (Gold Medal Game)

Team Ontario's luggage might be a bit heavier on the flight home--they have some gold to add.  The Ontario squad watched their girls defeat BC Blue and then the boys followed suit with an 87-60 victory over the BC Blue boys' team.

Ontario's head coach Brad Rootes was impressed with his team's effort in the final.  “Our goal for today overall was basically what we've done all tournament. We did a great job today especially with our rotations," Rootes said.

First quarter action was mainly controlled by Ontario--a large part in thanks to offensive rebounding. The eastern province led 22-12 at the opening break.  Guard Duane Notice (Woodbridge) silenced an energized home crowd in the second quarter with his consistent shooting from behind the three-point arc.  Ontario expanded their lead to 49-24 going into the halftime intermission.

In the third quarter, Ontario picked up right where they left off and jumped out to a 9-0 run, including a fast-break two-handed dunk by Notice.  Ontario entered the fourth quarter up 77-39. BC Blue saved their best quarter for last but they were too far behind to give Ontario any sort of scare.

Notice led all Ontario scorers with 26 points.  Forward Isaiah Watkins (Toronto) recorded nine rebounds in the gold medal performance. BC Blue was led by centre Nick Irvine (Burnaby) as he knocked down 18 points. Centre Braxston Bunce (Kelowna) posted seven rebounds for BC Blue.  Notice of Ontario and Irvine of BC Blue were the McDonald's players of the game.

Year after year Ontario is a dominant force in this tournament and Rootes explained that the population is a big factor.  "I think part of it may just be the numbers.  Our top quality players have a lot of other top quality players to play against." 

MVP:
#10 Duane Notice, Ontario

1^st Team All-Stars:
#5 Henry Tan, Ontario
#21 Braxston Bunce, BC Blue
#11 Mitch Goodwin, BC Blue
#14 Connor Foreman, Alberta
#8 Xavier Kosolofski, Saskatchewan

2^nd Team All-Stars:
#15 Cameron Smythe, BC Red
#5 Antonio Simmonds, Nova Scotia
#11 Kristjan Lamont, Manitoba
#5 Kyle Peterson, Alberta
#7 Daniel Nwosu, Ontario

(with information from TRU Athletics)
(photo from Vision Quest - visionquest1@shaw.ca)